Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids

Flights between Canada and the U.S.

All other flights

Air Canada is subject to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Rule on "Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel"
(14 CFR Part 382) applicable to the services we offer customers with special needs who:

Are travelling on a flight between Canada and the United States; and

Have purchased a ticket with an Air-Canada operated flight through a US-based airline (the ticket will then bear the code of the US airline, e.g. United Airlines' UA 7811).

Travelling with your own Wheelchair/Mobility Aid

Air Canada will carry the following mobility aids as carry-on (subject to space availability) or checked baggage over and above normal baggage allowance without charge:

Any portable battery-powered medical device that is related to your disability or medical condition and is needed in flight or required immediately upon arrival (e.g. dialysis equipment, feeding tube, CPAP or Personal Oxygen Concentrator)

Communication devices

More about Travelling with your own Wheelchair/Mobility Aid

Air Canada will also:

When possible, arrange for the use of your own wheelchair or other mobility aid until boarding, and for its delivery to you at the gate upon arrival

When required, disassemble your wheelchair or other mobility aid and/or batteries, then unpack the batteries and reassemble your mobility aid upon arrival

Assist in transferring you between your wheelchair or other mobility aid and the aircraft seat

Assist you in moving to and from the aircraft washroom (except by carrying) with the use of the on-board wheelchair

Arrange for alternate transportation for your large mobility aid when travelling on an aircraft with less than 60 seats that cannot accommodate the aid

Baggage identification tags are supplied to all our customers at check-in counters. We ask that you use them to identify your baggage and any equipment, including a wheelchair. A specially-designed tag for wheelchairs alerts our customer service agents whether your chair must be delivered to the aircraft door or the baggage room.

Reporting damage to your wheelchair or mobility aid:

If you notice damage to your wheelchair or mobility aid upon arriving at your destination, we ask that you report it as you would report damaged baggage.

Advance Notice and Check-in Requirements

If you are travelling with an electric wheelchair on an aircraft with fewer than 60 seats (i.e. Bombardier Dash 8-300, Dash 8-100 or CRJ100/200, or Beechcraft 1900D), you will need to:

Although advance notice is required only for the smaller aircraft listed above, we recommend that you contact Air Canada Reservations in advance for all aircraft types to ensure proper handling of your wheelchair. View our fleet pages for more information on our aircraft.

Assistance within the Airport

Passenger access lifts are available at certain airports to allow customers in wheelchairs to safely board smaller connector aircraft.

If you are unable to ascend or descend stairs or are unable to walk long distances within the airport, Air Canada will, upon request, provide wheelchair assistance to and from the door of the aircraft throughout your journey.

Assistance within the airport includes stopping at the washroom entrance. Noassistance is provided within the washroom; if you need assistance past the washroom entrance, you may need to be accompanied by your own attendant.

Wheelchairs on Board the Plane

Although washrooms on most aircraft are fully accessible to passengers using the on-board wheelchair, please note that not all Air Canada Express aircraft have an on-board wheelchair able to access the plane's washrooms. If this is an important consideration for you, please contact the
Air Canada Medical Assistance Desk to make the necessary arrangements for your flight.

View our fleet pages for more information on Air Canada and Air Canada Express aircraft configuration.

Travelling with your own Wheelchair or other Mobility Aid

Air Canada will carry the following mobility aids as carry-on (subject to space availability) or checked baggage over and above normal baggage allowance without charge:

Any portable battery-powered medical device that is related to your disability or medical condition and is needed in flight or required immediately upon arrival (e.g. dialysis equipment, feeding tube, CPAP or Personal Oxygen Concentrator)

Communication devices

More about Travelling with your own Wheelchair/Mobility Aid

Air Canada will also:

When possible, arrange for the use of your own wheelchair or other mobility aid until boarding, and for its delivery to you at the gate upon arrival

When required, disassemble your wheelchair or other mobility aid and/or batteries, then unpack the batteries and reassemble your mobility aid upon arrival

Assist in transferring you between your wheelchair or other mobility aid and the aircraft seat

Assist you in moving to and from the aircraft washroom (except by carrying) with the use of the on-board wheelchair

Arrange for alternate transportation for your large mobility aid when travelling on an aircraft with less than 60 seats that cannot accommodate the aid

Baggage identification tags are supplied to all our customers at check-in counters. We ask that you use them to identify your baggage and any equipment, including a wheelchair. A specially-designed tag for wheelchairs alerts our customer service agents whether your chair must be delivered to the aircraft door or the baggage room.

Reporting damage to your wheelchair or mobility aid:

If you notice damage to your wheelchair or mobility aid upon arriving at your destination, we ask that you report it as you would report damaged baggage.

Advance Notice and Check-in Requirements

Because of the special handling requirements that apply to battery-powered mobility aids, we ask that you:

Inform Air Canada Reservations at least 48 hours prior to departure that you wish to transport such equipment (72 hours for
certain destinations).
However, we will make every effort to accommodate requests made within that time frame.

Be at the airport for check-in at leastone extra hourahead of the recommended check-in time for your flight to ensure sufficient time for special handling and packaging.

Assistance within the Airport

Passenger access lifts are available at certain airports to allow customers in wheelchairs to safely board smaller connector aircraft.

If you are unable to ascend or descend stairs or are unable to walk long distances within the airport, Air Canada will, upon request, provide wheelchair assistance to and from the door of the aircraft throughout your journey.

Assistance within the airport includes stopping at the washroom entrance. Noassistance is provided within the washroom; if you need assistance past the washroom entrance, you may need to be accompanied by your own attendant.

Wheelchairs on Board the Plane

Although washrooms on most aircraft are fully accessible to passengers using the on-board wheelchair, please note that not all Air Canada Express aircraft have an on-board wheelchair able to access the plane's washrooms. If this is an important consideration for you, please contact the
Air Canada Medical Assistance Desk to make the necessary arrangements for your flight.

View our fleet pages for more information on Air Canada and Air Canada Express aircraft configuration.